Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

A decade of recognition, justice and development: implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”

Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, we pay tribute to the victims of the Sharpeville massacre who protested against apartheid and tragically lost their lives. Their sacrifice, alongside that of countless other victims of racism, discrimination, and violence worldwide is a reminder of the moral imperative to eradicate these scourges.

We honour the courage and resilience of so many Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, minorities, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, refugees, and many others who combat racism on a daily basis. Their activism brings hope that racial justice can indeed be achieved – for all peoples suffering racial discrimination.

Ten years have passed since the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Progress so far has fallen short of expectations. As a recent report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights reveals, almost half of the people of African descent surveyed in the European Union still experience racial discrimination, with an increase from 39 per cent in 2016 to 45 per cent in 2022.

The programme of activities of the International Decade highlights the role of disaggregated data to guide the formulation of policies and actions to prevent, to combat and indeed eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.

Data disaggregated by race or ethnic origin remains unavailable in many countries and regions. Breaking this statistical silence, which reinforces the historical, social, and structural invisibility of people of African descent, remains a key challenge.

Recognising that most demographic censuses in Latin America include self-identification for people of African descent, disaggregation often does not apply to other data sources, such as health or household surveys and other vital statistics records, comprising births and deaths. A joint project by our Office and the Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) identified 33 indicators to measure inequalities between people of African descent and non-African descent, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, and the programme of activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent as well as the Montevideo Consensus.

We encourage States, with strict safeguards and in accordance with international human rights law, to collect comprehensive data that is disaggregated by race or ethnic origin and to use it to shape targeted responses to systemic and structural racism.

The legal and policy frameworks to combat racism and racial discrimination exist. These are: the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and the programme of activities of this International Decade. Combined with the High Commissioner’s Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality and the Guidance Note on the right to participate in public affairs: with a spotlight on people of African descent, and all of these provide a solid roadmap for States to protect individuals and groups from racism and racial discrimination.

This is critical because many States still lack effective and comprehensive national legislation to prevent discrimination and promote equality. We urge States to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that address discrimination based on race or ethnicity, national origin, descent, age, gender, religion, disability, and sexual orientation, among others, as compounded and aggravated by intersectionality. OHCHR’s Practical Guide to Developing Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Legislation can be a useful practical tool in this regard.

Education and awareness raising also play a pivotal role, contributing to increased understanding of the historical context and the continuing impact of racial discrimination on people of African descent. A recent report of the World Bank on Afro-descendant inclusion in education in Latin America reveals that from over 5,100 images analysed in selected textbooks, Afro-descendants are represented in only 15 per cent, despite constituting about one quarter of the population. And even when Afro-descendants appear profusely, the images mostly portray them in stereotypes, linked to folklore, dance, and music.

The detrimental effects of racism on mental health of people of African descent should also be acknowledged and integrated effectively into policy measures on the right to health. Collaborative efforts, such as those between our Office, the EU Anti-Racism Coordinator, and the European Public Health Alliance, are crucial if we are to bridge the gap between policy and research to combat racism.

As Coordinator of the Decade, the High Commissioner remains committed to empowering people of African descent through initiatives like the Annual Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent, and I am pleased to say that to date it has seen the participation of over 149 fellows from 45 countries. More than 90 percent of the former fellows continue to advance the rights of people of African descent by supporting their communities, advocating for new laws and policies, training human rights defenders of African descent, and raising awareness in their different roles – within governments, national human rights institutions or from the ranks of civil society. I am pleased that one of the former fellows – Ms. Isabelle Mamadou – is with us today.

Mr. President,
Excellencies,

As we approach the end of the International Decade, we must redouble our collective efforts to advance the elaboration of the draft declaration on the promotion and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent. Strong leadership is essential in pursuing reparatory justice for the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, fully guided by the perspectives of the people of African descent themselves. We must listen to, respect, and secure the perspectives of all those impacted by intersecting forms of discrimination, including notably women.

And therefore I wish to underscore that effective and sustainable initiatives towards recognition, justice, and development for people of African descent must be pursued vigorously beyond 2024 – and that is why we are calling on States to consider proclaiming a second International Decade for People of African Descent, starting in 2025.

Our work is far from over. Let us recommit to making good on the promise to effectively eradicate racism and racial discrimination for everyone, everywhere.

Thank you.